The Cities of Eternal Fog

Walk in darkness, hunt in fog.

Status

Prerequisites: Varies
(see below)

Effects: Your character
has standing, credentials, authority
or respect within an
organization, group, company
or social body. He might have an official position or
title, or might simply be revered and honored within the
group and therefore accorded a degree of authority. Your
character might be a company vice president, a police sergeant
or lieutenant, an army corporal or a nurse at a hospital.
Or he could be a lowly member of the group whom everyone
likes or who has won some acclaim and is allowed
more standing than he is officially entitled.

Each acquisition of this Merit is dedicated to one type
of authority, whether in an organization, society or circle.
Examples include police, City Hall, criminals, unions, banks,
a university faculty and hospital staff. In order to have authority
in more than one venue, you need to purchase this
Merit multiple times, each trait with its own dots. Thus,
your character might have Status (Police) ¥¥, Status (Crimi
nals) ¥¥¥ and Status (City Hall) ¥, each acquired separately
at character creation or during play. You would need
to explain how he reconciles all this authority in the setting.
The aforementioned character might be a dirty police
sergeant who has paid his dues in civil elections and gained
some recognition among city officials.

Status represents the privileges and liberties that your
character is authorized to take within the confines and definitions
of his group. Increasing dots reflect increasing clout. A
cop with Status 1 can enter the suspect lockup and interrogation
rooms, while a cop with Status 4 can enter the evidence
locker without supervision or get involved in a crimescene
investigation without specifically being called in.

The phrase Òwithin the confines and definitions of his
groupÓ is emphasized above because Status operates exclusively
through official channels. A surgeon might have one
patient seen or operated on before another, because thatÕs
within the official confines of his authority. Exceeding the
confines of authority or proper channels transcends the limits
of the Status Merit. Going above and beyond Ñ to ask for
favors rather than give orders or to requisition an official
requestÑ enters the realm of the Allies Merit. So, a police
detective who gets a lower-ranking officer to investigate a
case may do so with Status. That request is conducted
through proper channels. Meanwhile, a police detective who
asks another officer to overlook some evidence or to delay
an investigation does so with Allies. The favor is asked outside
official channels.

While Status might allow your character to give orders
to underlings, the Merit doesnÕt automatically get results.
Subordinates or co-workers might resent their assignments,
dislike your character or have personal agendas
that interfere with your characterÕs needs. Efforts to
get things done through official channels still call for Manipulation
+ Intimidation, Persuasion or Socialize rolls,
whichever Skill is appropriate to the request, circumstances
and your characterÕs standing within the organization.
Bonus dice equal your characterÕs Status dots. Penalties
might apply if your character browbeats someone (-
1), uses threats (-2), skirts the limits of his authority (-2)
or exceeds his authority (-3 to -5).

Some sample organizations and the basic benefits,
perks and privileges of standing in them are listed below.

City Police: A patrol officer has legal powers of search,
seizure and arrest, is permitted to carry a firearm at all
times and has access to a wide range of local databases.
High-ranking officers (¥¥¥+) can initiate investigations,
coordinate with neighboring county or state police, and
call in urban-assault teams.

Clerical Standing: Your character is a licensed minister,
gaining access to people and places such as accused
criminals, hospital patients, crime and accident scenes,
and restricted areas in religious institutions. Prerequisite:
Academics Skill Specialty: Religion.

Corporate Executive: A low-level corporate executive
has access to much of the companyÕs resources, including
corporate credit cards, vehicles, cell phones and
computer equipment. Depending on the company, he can
also access sources of information and influence not available
to the general public. Executives (¥¥¥+) have larger
salaries, expense accounts, and hiring and firing powers,
not to mention social perks and access to connected political
figures and/or celebrities.

Diplomat: Your character is a registered diplomat for
a sovereign country. If he works in a foreign country he
has free lodging, access to his countryÕs embassy and immunity
from foreign criminal prosecution. Prerequisites:
Politics ¥¥ and Persuasion ¥¥.

Licensed Professional: Your character is licensed in a
recognized profession that affords him privileges unavailable
to most civilians. He might be a private investigator
and authorized to carry a concealed weapon and to have
access to restricted databases and government files, or he
could be a building contractor and be authorized to own
and use explosives for professional applications. Prerequisite:
Academics Skill Specialty: Law (private investigator),
Science Skill Specialty: Demolitions (building contractor).

Medical: Your character is licensed to practice medicine.
He can write prescriptions, access medical records
and gain access to restricted areas such as crime and accident
scenes. Prerequisite: Medicine ¥¥.

Military: An enlisted soldier has a monthly stipend,
is permitted to possess military-grade firearms and has access
to restricted sources of information and equipment.
If he is an active-duty soldier he receives free room and
board and medical care. High-ranking soldiers (¥¥¥+)
are officers who can command units, requisition military
equipment and perhaps even initiate foreign insurgencies.

Rotary Club: A basic member in good standing has
access to the local meeting hall and a network of members
who can provide club-related information or perform
club-related duties. A basic member can also benefit from
the organizationÕs emergency fund in times of need. Highranking
members (¥¥¥+) have access to other clubs
around the country, and have sway over connected civic
groups and political figures.

Drawback: Your characterÕs standing in a given organization
is dependent on the fulfillment of his duties
and on abiding by the regulations required of members.